Three Lee County Employees Suspended

Lee County, IA – The Lee County Board of Supervisors says an investigation into the conduct of three employees in the county recorder's office is underway.

Recorder Nancy Booten suspended the three with pay, pending the investigation. The Board of Supervisors said it supports Booten's decision in a brief statement.

The statement was provided via email, late Thursday afternoon, by the board's Cedar Rapids-based labor attorney.

The board did not address why the employees were suspended or how long they had been off the job.

The public statement was the first from the supervisors since members of the Lee County Sheriff's Office had to escort the three employees from their offices in Keokuk and Fort Madison on Thursday, April 8. Previous requests for comment from the supervisors were denied by Board Chairman Rick Larkin, citing personnel issues.

The board's statement also says that this matter does not have any connection with the possible combining of the elected offices of county recorder and auditor. A special committee, headed by Larkin, is looking into that idea.